A
Challenge to Modern Christians - Part 2.
Resolve
Inconsistencies in Your Beliefs
By Kim Michaels
Inconsistency No.
13. Why do some Christians ignore the importance of free will when Jesus
clearly acknowledged the reality of free will?
When we look at the suffering, conflict and injustice found on Earth
today, we have two options for explaining it. Either God created it
all, or we human beings created it by using our free will to go against
God’s laws and intent.
Jesus clearly acknowledged that we have free will and that we can choose
to follow or go against the will of God. The strongest example is no
doubt his own affliction in the garden at Gethsemane,
And he went a little
further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will,
but as thou [wilt]. (Matthew 26:39)
Because Jesus knew we have
free will, he admonished us to get understanding, to increase our faith
and to change our hearts—our state of consciousness. The purpose
being that we could make better choices and stop sinning.
If we did not have free will, much of Jesus’ ministry would make
no sense. When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know
not what they do,” he indicated that people made their choices
based on ignorance. Obviously, Jesus could not force people to abandon
their ignorance as evidenced by the fact that he did not convert those
that persecuted and killed him. Therefore, it is up to us to chose to
overcome our ignorance.
The importance of recognizing free will is that God or Jesus cannot
save us against our free will. To be saved, we must make certain choices,
and as we have seen earlier, we must choose to come up higher in consciousness.
We must choose to overcome ignorance and open our minds to the truth
of God instead of a man-made “truth” that might seem comfortable
at the moment. Salvation involves making better choices and to make
better choices, we must take an active approach and overcome the state
of consciousness that keeps us ignorant of our true identity as spiritual
beings.
The foundation for making better choices is to have correct understanding.
Ultimately, we can attain this understanding only by putting off the
old man of the human consciousness and putting on the new man of the
Christ consciousness.
Inconsistency No.
14. Why do some Christians take a passive approach to salvation, expecting
Jesus to do all the work for them, when Jesus himself took an active
approach?
We have seen that Jesus forcefully denounced the outer approach to religion.
According to this approach, being a member of a certain religion, believing
its outer doctrines and performing its rituals is enough to attain salvation.
We might call this the belief in an automatic or guaranteed salvation.
Jesus’ words indicate that he did not believe in an automatic
salvation. If the key to salvation is to attain Christ consciousness,
then no outer conditions can guarantee salvation. In fact, Jesus stated
that unless our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, we will not be saved. Yet these people were doing everything
right from an outer perspective. They were following the outer law to
the letter.
It seems clear that Jesus did not believe in an automatic salvation.
It simply isn't enough to be a member of a Christian church, blindly
believe its doctrines and rotely follow its rituals. It isn't enough
to declare Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It seems that the salvation
that Jesus preached requires us to take an active approach. It requires
us to make an effort to raise our consciousness instead of passively
waiting for an outside force to do all the work for us.
Perhaps we should stop passively waiting for Jesus to save us and get
busy raising our consciousness.
Inconsistency No.
15. Why do some Christians say that all that is required for salvation
is to declare Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior when Jesus never
said those exact words?
Many Christians claim that if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior,
you will automatically be saved. This is even more surprising since
the Christians who say this insist on a literal interpretation of the
Bible. Yet Jesus never said that if you declare him to be your Lord
and Savior, you will be saved no matter what you do or how you live
your life.
Yet we have seen that Jesus
denounced the automatic or guaranteed salvation promised by the Jewish
authorities. Instead, Jesus indicated that the key to salvation is a
change in consciousness which depends on our free-will choices and not
on outer conditions.
There is not one place in scripture where Jesus promised that if you
declare him as your Lord and Savior, your salvation is guaranteed. On
the contrary, he forcefully denounced the Jewish authorities who promised
salvation through outer means.
Many Christians have been confused by John 14:6, which states:
Jesus saith unto
him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
Many Christians interpret
this statement to mean that the person of Jesus is the only way to salvation.
Yet is that really what Jesus meant? We have seen that Jesus denounced
an outer salvation and encouraged an inner salvation in the form of
attaining Christ consciousness. Jesus obviously came to demonstrate
this process, and we can assume that he attained full Christ consciousness.
What happens when you attain this state of consciousness? Is it possible
that you identify yourself so completely with this state of consciousness
that you naturally declare, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,”
meaning that the Christ consciousness is the Way, the Truth and the
Life? Is it possible that Jesus was saying that no one can come to the
Father without attaining the Christ consciousness, as he demonstrated?
This would also explain Jesus’ parable about the man who entered
the wedding feast without the wedding garment of Christ consciousness.
If Jesus really meant that no one comes to the Father without Christ
consciousness, then elevating the person of Jesus as the only road to
salvation is counter to Jesus’ teachings and intent. Is it possible
that the outer road to salvation, the automatic salvation, is what is
referred to in Proverbs,
There is a way
which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways
of death. (Proverbs 14:12 )
Let us instead take the inner
path to salvation, as Jesus did.
Inconsistency No.
16. Why do some Christians passively wait for the second coming of Christ
if Jesus preached an active approach to religion?
Many Christians are awaiting the second coming of Christ. Yet if we
accept that Jesus preached an active approach to religion, we can gain
a new perspective on this topic. We now have to consider that the second
coming of Christ could be an event that depends on how we respond to
the first coming of Christ.
Why did the soldiers need Judas to point out Jesus among his disciples?
Because the soldiers could not recognize the embodied Christ. We must
reason that if people are trapped in a lower state of consciousness,
the carnal mind, they cannot recognize the embodied Christ. Thus, as
long as the majority of human beings are trapped in this lower state
of consciousness, there might be no point in Christ coming again. Who
would recognize him even if he walked among us?
The saying that “It takes one to know one” might have a
profound message. Is it possible that the second coming of Christ cannot
occur until a critical mass of people attain Christ consciousness and
can therefore recognize Christ come again? In other words, the second
coming of Christ might be an event in which many Christed beings will
walk the earth, clearly recognizing the Christ in themselves and each
other.
It might be up to us to bring about the second coming by raising our
consciousness and attaining Christ consciousness.
Inconsistency No.
17. Why do some Christians ignore that Jesus said we can inherit the
kingdom of God?
Who inherits the kingdom of an earthly king? Only his son or daughter.
So who can inherit the kingdom of a heavenly king? Obviously, only those
who see themselves as sons and daughters of God.
We have seen that Jesus told us to transcend the lower state of consciousness
in which we see ourselves as separated from God. When we attain Christ
consciousness, we see our true identity as spiritual beings, but what
does this mean? The Old Testament states that “without him [God]
was not anything made that was made.” It also states that God
created man in his image and likeness. Jesus said, “Ye are Gods.”
Does this point to the fact that we were all created as sons and daughters
of God? If so, the importance of free will becomes paramount. By misusing
our free will, we have become trapped in a lower state of consciousness
in which we see ourselves as separated from God. Therefore, we cannot
accept our true identity as sons and daughters. The key to salvation
is to attain a higher state of consciousness and reclaim our identity
as sons and daughters of God. Only by doing so can we inherit the kingdom.
The consequence is that Jesus did not come as an exception. He came
as an example to show us a path that all of us have the potential to
follow until we join our older brother, Jesus, in the kingdom.
Perhaps Jesus came to show us that the son of man, by attaining Christ
consciousness, can become the Son of God?
Inconsistency No.
18. Why do some Christians equate Jesus with God when this seems to
violate the first commandment?
The first of the ten commandments states that “Thou shalt have
no other gods before me.” The fact that this is the first commandment
might indicate that it is the most important one and that it outlines
the relationship we should have with God. The second commandment states
that we shall not take unto us any graven image. The indication seems
clear.
We live in a world in which everything has some kind of form. God is
clearly beyond this world, and therefore no form in this world can accurately
portray the God that is beyond this world and perhaps beyond form. If
we create an image in this world of form and worship it as God, then
we cannot worship the true God who is beyond any form in this world.
Consequently, we are worshiping a false god and putting a man-made idol
before the true God.
So why do many Christians equate Jesus with God and worship him as God
incarnate? Jesus never said that he was God. In fact, he clearly stated
that the servant is not greater than his Lord. He said that “I
and my Father are one” but that is not the same as saying that
Jesus is God. Was Jesus actually saying that he had recognized and accepted
that he was created by God, created in his image, and therefore he was
no longer separated (in his mind) from God?
If we accept that Jesus came to show us a path that we too can follow,
then equating Jesus with God can be seen as the worship of an idol.
The problem being that if we think Jesus was God and that we are fundamentally
different from Jesus, then it follows that we can never attain the oneness
with God that Jesus attained. Thus we can never escape the state of
consciousness in which we worship idols because the only escape from
this state is to attain Christ consciousness so we can see that all
human beings are sons and daughters of God.
So we need to consider that worshiping Jesus as God can be a violation
of the first commandment and a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose
of Jesus’ mission. In reality, Jesus might have come to show us
that we all have the potential to awaken from our spiritual sleep and
accept our divine inheritance.
Inconsistency No.
19. Why do some Christians think Jesus was the only Son of God?
According to the scriptures, Jesus never stated that he was the only
Son of God and neither did any of his followers or his adversaries.
The Old Testament has several verses that use the words “sons
of God,” indicating that there must be more than one Son of God.
One example is,
Now there was
a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD,
and Satan came also among them. (Job 1:6 )
Is it possible that the expression
“Son of God” is a religious title? In other words, all people
are created as sons and daughters of God. However, as long as we are
trapped by the carnal mind, we cannot accept our spiritual identity,
and therefore we see ourselves as human beings who are separated from
God. When we transcend this state of consciousness and attain Christ
consciousness, we can divide the real from the unreal.
We can now see and accept the truth that we are sons and daughters of
God. Thereby we can serve God in a greater capacity and we earn the
title of Son or Daughter of God.
Inconsistency No.
20. Why do some Christians put Jesus on a pedestal, making him into
an idol that none dare follow?
We have seen that Jesus might have come to demonstrate a path that we
can all follow, a path that leads us out of the bondage of the carnal
mind and into the promised land of the Christ consciousness, the kingdom
of God. If this is indeed true, then it is essential that we take Jesus
down from the pedestal and stop seeing him as an idol.
As long as we see Jesus as the only one who could attain Christ consciousness,
we are directly opposing the true purpose of his mission. We are, in
fact, doing exactly what Jesus' adversaries, the Devil himself, wants
us to do instead of what Jesus wants us to do.
Jesus said that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the
kingdom. The only thing that prevents us from having the kingdom, the
abundant life, is that we are using our free will to reject that kingdom
by thinking that we are not worthy of it. And by elevating Jesus to
an idol as the only son of God, we are only increasing our bondage.
We might say that Jesus came to be a tool for our spiritual liberation.
Yet by turning him into an idol, we have turned him into a tool for
our continued imprisonment in a lower state of consciousness.
How can we possibly claim to be true followers of Jesus if we refuse
to follow in his footsteps? If we love Jesus, should we not follow his
commandments and example and let this mind be in us which was also in
him? If none of us dare follow in Jesus’ footsteps, it would seem
that he has failed as a teacher. Let us stop denying the Christ in ourselves
and give Jesus his ultimate victory of bringing all of his brothers
and sisters home to the kingdom.
Inconsistency No.
21. Why do some Christians think it is blasphemy to see yourself as
a son or daughter of God if Jesus didn't think so?
When Jesus said, “I and my Father are one,” he was accused
of blasphemy. Yet Jesus clearly didn't see this as blasphemy. We have
discussed that Jesus had overcome all sense of separation from his source
and therefore accepted himself as a Son of God. We have also seen that
Jesus might have considered all people as Sons and Daughters of God.
After all, Jesus said, “Ye are Gods.” He also said, “Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto the least of these my little ones, you have
done in unto me,” thus affirming his oneness with all life.
If we truly are the sons and daughters of God, how can accepting our
divine source be blasphemy? And if we are created by God, how can we
accept our true identity without accepting that we are sons and daughters
of God? So the true blasphemy might be to deny our real identity and
thereby deny our spiritual Father.
Inconsistency No.
22. Why do some Christians ignore the message hidden in the parable
of the talents.
In the parable of the talents, Jesus describes an important facet of
the relationship between man and God. The servants who multiplied the
talents given to them were praised. The servant who buried the talents
in the ground and did nothing to multiply them was chastised. Jesus
makes it clear that God does not want us to take a passive approach
to life. God wants us to make the best of whatever opportunity we have.
Jesus also indicates that it really doesn't matter whether we have much
or little according to an earthly standard. What matters to God is that
we made the best possible use of whatever opportunity we were given.
If we multiply whatever talents we have, then God will give us a harvest
by multiplying what we bring to the altar of life. If we, for whatever
reason, refuse to multiply what we have been given, then God has nothing
to multiply, and we will lose all.
This is another reason to abandon the passive approach to life and salvation
taken by some Christians. This is another reason to not wait for Jesus
to save us. However, this parable becomes especially important in light
of our discussion about Christ consciousness. We might consider that
the most precious talent we have been given is the potential to manifest
Christ consciousness. And whatever strides we make in that endeavor,
will be rewarded by God. However, if we make no strides, then we have
no reward.
If Jesus came to demonstrate the path of attaining Christ consciousness,
would it not be sad if we turned him into an exception and used him
as an excuse for not multiplying our talents of Christ consciousness?
Inconsistency No.
23. Why do some Christians think Jesus has taken upon himself all sins
that could ever be committed?
Let us first state the fact that Jesus never said that he would take
on all of the sins that could possibly be committed for all eternity.
In essence, this would have given a blank check to humankind. Therefore,
we might need a deeper understanding of vicarious atonement. The inevitable
consequence of this belief is that it no longer matters how we live
our lives. Taken to its extreme, this idea implies that if a person
like Adolf Hitler confessed Christ on his deathbed, he would automatically
be saved.
The problem here is that if you can commit evil acts and be saved by
confessing Christ, then why did Jesus give the sermon on the mount?
Why did Jesus say,
But whoso shall
offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better
for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he
were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6 )
It seems clear that to Jesus
salvation did depend on how people live their lives. Yet if all that
is required for salvation is that we confess Christ, then all of Jesus’
directions and warnings would seem to have been for naught. So either
Jesus didn't really understand that he is the key to salvation, or the
idea that he has taken upon himself all future sins is out of touch
with his true teachings.
In light of our discussion of Christ consciousness, we can find an alternative
explanation. Perhaps the real key to the atonement for sin is to attain
Christ consciousness? Jesus came to show the way, to demonstrate that
we all have the potential to manifest Christ consciousness. And by doing
so we will atone for our sins and attain salvation—not through
the outer person of Jesus but through the inner “person”
of the Christ consciousness, the Christ self.
Inconsistency No.
24. Why do some Christians ignore that ideas and concepts were taken
out of the Christian faith for political reasons? Why isn't there an
open and determined effort to put back what was taken out?
By taking an objective look at the history of the Christian religion,
it is easy to see that various concepts and ideas have been taken out
and banned as heresy. It is also relatively easy to see that in some
cases this was done for political reasons. Sometimes this was done in
the distant past, and even if the reasons had some validity 1,500 years
ago, those reasons may be completely invalid today.
Why aren't modern Christians outraged at the thought that certain church
authorities took out ideas that were part of the Christian faith? Why
don’t people think that perhaps such ideas were part of early
Christianity because Jesus taught these ideas? Why aren't Christians
outraged at the thought that the Church might have taken out what Jesus
wanted us to know? And why isn't there a concerted effort, supported
by many Christian denominations, to put back what was taken out and
thereby build the most accurate image possible of what Jesus really
taught?
Why wouldn't modern Christians want to know exactly what Jesus taught
and what he believed? Don’t people want the truth about Jesus,
or are they satisfied with their current doctrines and interpretations
because they make them feel comfortable? Are Christians afraid that
the real Jesus will jump out of the box and disturb their sense that
they have Jesus under control?
With the discoveries of ancient texts, such as the Dead sea Scrolls
and the Nag Hamadhi Library, and the advance in scientific methods,
we have an unprecedented opportunity for attaining a more accurate view
of Jesus and his true teachings. So why aren't we taking advantage of
this opportunity?
Inconsistency No.
25. Why do some Christians ignore the need for progressive revelation
when Jesus saw himself as part of an ancient tradition of progressive
revelation?
Jesus stated,
Think not that I
am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)
The time of the prophets
was a period during which God anointed certain people to serve as prophets
and bring forth the Living Word in order to give people divine directions
and warnings. In other words, God was giving people progressive revelations
as they were needed.
Many Christians seem to assume that when Jesus said he came to fulfill
this phase, he put an end to progressive revelation. Some Christians
seem to think that neither God nor Jesus has had anything to say to
us for 2,000 years.
Yet the scriptures state that Jesus appeared to his disciples for many
years after his resurrection. He taught them and gave them directions.
Paul’s letters demonstrate that he too saw himself as an instrument
of progressive revelation. Jesus clearly saw himself as part of an ongoing
tradition of progressive revelation, and he attempted to continue this
progressive revelation after his departure.
Do we fully understand why this progressive revelation stopped? Did
Jesus stop it, or did people stop it because they were no longer willing
to listen? The Gnostics carried on progressive revelation for centuries,
whereas the organized Christian church never fully recognized it.
Consider why Jesus didn't organize the writing down of his teachings?
Perhaps he saw no need to do so because he intended to continue to give
us teachings in the form of the Living Word? Perhaps he did not want
to write anything down, given what he had seen the scribes and the Pharisees
do to the scriptures of the Old Testament? Perhaps Jesus wanted to avoid
this battle over the interpretation of scripture by establishing an
ongoing tradition of giving us new teachings through the Living Word?
When you have the Living
Word of God, you have no need to interpret the scriptures of the past.
We might also consider the statement that as we are faithful over a
few things, God will make us ruler over many. Perhaps Jesus intended
that as humankind applied his teachings and attained a higher degree
of understanding and a higher level of consciousness, he would give
people more advanced spiritual teachings through the Living Word? Perhaps
he intended to publicly release the advanced teachings that he could
give only to his disciples during his lifetime?
The question for all Christians now becomes whether we want to hear
the Living Word. In other words, if Jesus has a message for today’s
spiritual people, do you want to hear it? Or are you satisfied with
a set of 2,000 year old scriptures and the numerous interpretations
of those scriptures?
Do you want to know the real Jesus and his true teachings, or are you
satisfied with an image of Jesus, and idol, that has been built over
these 2,000 years?
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© 2003 by Kim Michaels |
